Linked Discourses 22.135

1. Ignorance

With Koṭṭhita (3rd)

The same setting.

Sāriputta said to Mahākoṭṭhita:

“Reverend Koṭṭhita, they speak of this thing called ‘ignorance’.

What is ignorance?

And how is an ignoramus defined?”

“Reverend, it’s when an unlearned ordinary person doesn’t understand form, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation.

They don’t understand feeling …

perception …

choices …

consciousness, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation.

This is called ignorance.

And this is how an ignoramus is defined.”

When he said this, Venerable Sāriputta said to him:

“Reverend Koṭṭhita, they speak of this thing called ‘knowledge’.

What is knowledge?

And how is a knowing one defined?”

“Reverend, it’s when a learned noble disciple understands form, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation.

They understand feeling …

perception …

choices …

consciousness, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation.

This is called knowledge.

And this is how a knowing one is defined.”